AMD Radeon R8 M445DX vs NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 and the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX are two graphics solutions from different eras and design philosophies, yet they land remarkably close in raw compute benchmarks. The GTS 450, a discrete desktop card from the Fermi generation, edges out the newer integrated AMD part in the single available OpenCL test, but the underlying architectures and intended use cases could not be more different. The data shows a 3.5% performance gap in favor of the NVIDIA card, which translates to a near-tie in practical terms, but the specification sheets reveal that each was built for a distinct market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 claims the only direct benchmark victory, scoring 4893 in Geekbench OpenCL against the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX's 4727. This 3.5% lead is the sole head-to-head data point, giving NVIDIA the win count of 1. However, the nature of the win suggests the GTS 450 excels in scenarios where dedicated video memory and higher memory bandwidth matter, as its 57.73 GB/s of bandwidth and 128-bit bus are designed for sustained throughput. The GTS 450 also holds a notable advantage in texture fill rate, delivering 25.06 GTexel/s compared to the AMD's 20.42 GTexel/s, which points to a strength in texture-heavy workloads.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX, despite losing the single benchmark, wins in architectural efficiency and modern feature support. Its GCN 3.0 architecture with 320 shading units provides a higher raw shader count than the GTS 450's 192, and its FP32 output of 653.4 GFLOPS exceeds the NVIDIA's 601.3 GFLOPS. The AMD part also demonstrates superior pixel throughput at 8.168 GPixel/s versus 6.264 GPixel/s, indicating a potential advantage in fill-rate-limited scenarios. The R8 M445DX also supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170, whereas the GTS 450 only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) with no Vulkan support, making the AMD the clear choice for modern API-based titles.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is built on the Fermi architecture using the GF106 chip on a 40 nm process at TSMC. This older design utilizes 1,170 million transistors across a 238 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 4.9M per mm². The Fermi architecture is known for its compute capabilities but also its higher power draw, reflected in the GTS 450's 106 W TDP. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX, conversely, uses the Meso chip based on GCN 3.0, manufactured on a more advanced 28 nm process. It packs 1,550 million transistors into a much smaller 125 mm² die, achieving a density of 12.4M per mm², which is over 2.5 times denser than the NVIDIA part.

The memory architecture is fundamentally different. The GTS 450 features a dedicated 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with a fixed bandwidth of 57.73 GB/s and memory clocks at 902 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective). The R8 M445DX, being an integrated graphics processor (IGP), relies on System Shared memory, with its bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the AMD's performance is heavily contingent on the host system's RAM speed and configuration, whereas the NVIDIA card has predictable, dedicated resources. The AMD part also boasts a higher base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 1021 MHz, though the GTS 450's base and boost clocks are not listed in the data, making direct clock comparisons impossible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only available benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, where the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 scores 4893 and the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4727. The delta percentage of 3.5% in favor of NVIDIA is modest but consistent across the board when examining the nearest rivals. The GTS 450's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB with an average score of 4901, which is only 0.2% higher, indicating the GTS 450 is performing near the upper boundary of its performance class. Similarly, the AMD FirePro W5130M scores 4904, just 0.2% above the GTS 450, while the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX trails at 4867, a 0.5% deficit.

For the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX, its nearest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro P400 with a score of 4684, which the AMD part beats by 0.9%. This places the R8 M445DX in a similar performance envelope, though slightly below the GTS 450. Interestingly, the AMD Radeon R5 M335 scores 4752, which is 0.5% higher than the R8 M445DX, showing that even within AMD's own lineup, the R8 M445DX is not at the top of its class. The data suggests that while the GTS 450 wins this specific test, the margin is small enough that real-world performance would likely be indistinguishable in many applications, especially considering the AMD's higher FP32 throughput and pixel rate.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ on nearly every measurable specification. The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 uses a 40 nm process, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX uses 28 nm. The GTS 450 has 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, whereas the R8 M445DX has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die. This leads to a transistor density of 4.9M per mm² for NVIDIA and 12.4M per mm² for AMD. The GTS 450 features 192 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, while the R8 M445DX has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs.

Memory configurations diverge completely: the GTS 450 has 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 57.73 GB/s bandwidth, while the R8 M445DX uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth. The GTS 450's memory clock is 902 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective), but the AMD's clocks are listed as System Shared with no specific frequency. Pixel rates are 6.264 GPixel/s for NVIDIA and 8.168 GPixel/s for AMD, while texture rates are 25.06 GTexel/s and 20.42 GTexel/s, respectively. FP32 performance is 601.3 GFLOPS for NVIDIA and 653.4 GFLOPS for AMD, with the AMD also supporting FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1), a feature the NVIDIA lacks entirely.

The GTS 450 is a dual-slot card requiring a 6-pin power connector and a 300 W PSU, while the R8 M445DX is an IGP with no power connector or PSU requirements. The NVIDIA card supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, but no Vulkan, whereas the AMD supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The GTS 450 has a launch MSRP of 129 USD and measures 210 mm in length and 111 mm in height, while the R8 M445DX has no listed dimensions, TDP, or launch MSRP. The GTS 450 was released in 2010 and is part of the GeForce 400 generation, while the R8 M445DX came in 2016 under the Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400) generation.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher raw compute throughput in FP32?

A: The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX has a higher FP32 output at 653.4 GFLOPS, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450's 601.3 GFLOPS.

Q: Does the NVIDIA GTS 450 support Vulkan?

A: No, the GTS 450 only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan API listed. The AMD R8 M445DX, by contrast, supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The NVIDIA GTS 450 has a fixed memory bandwidth of 57.73 GB/s from its dedicated 128-bit GDDR5 memory, while the AMD R8 M445DX uses System Shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent," meaning it varies based on the host system.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX has a higher pixel rate at 8.168 GPixel/s, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 achieves 6.264 GPixel/s.

Q: How do their transistor densities compare?

A: The AMD R8 M445DX has a significantly higher transistor density of 12.4M per mm² on a 125 mm² die, while the NVIDIA GTS 450 has a density of 4.9M per mm² on a 238 mm² die.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX has 320 shading units, substantially more than the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450's 192 shading units.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a narrow victory for the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 in the single OpenCL test, but the specification comparison tells a more nuanced story. The GTS 450 is the better choice for users who need a dedicated, self-contained graphics card with predictable memory performance, as evidenced by its fixed 57.73 GB/s bandwidth and superior texture rate of 25.06 GTexel/s. Its 3.5% lead in the head-to-head benchmark and its position among rivals (within 0.2% of the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB's score) make it a solid performer for its era, though its lack of Vulkan support and older DirectX 11_0 feature level limit its modern software compatibility.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX, despite losing the single benchmark, presents a compelling case for modern workloads. Its GCN 3.0 architecture with 320 shading units delivers higher FP32 and FP16 throughput, and its support for DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170 ensures compatibility with current APIs. The higher pixel rate of 8.168 GPixel/s suggests it may handle resolution scaling better, while its IGP nature means it consumes no additional power and requires no dedicated cooling or power connectors. However, its reliance on System Shared memory makes its performance dependent on the host system's RAM, introducing variability that the GTS 450 avoids. Ultimately, the GTS 450 wins on raw benchmark score and fixed memory bandwidth, but the R8 M445DX wins on architectural efficiency, modern API support, and compute throughput. The choice depends on whether the user prioritizes the isolated benchmark win or the broader feature set for contemporary software.